PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Mondragon (ranked 22292 p4p, 2451 weight class) and Mr Spar (ranked 608 p4p, 330 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Esteban Mondragon has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Esteban Mondragon seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Mondragon
vs
Spar

180 cm
32
177
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
41
187
23 - 21 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Esteban Mondragon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Spar!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mondragon connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Spar's hands.
Mondragon takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mondragon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mondragon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Spar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Spar looks to score with a jab to the body but Mondragon is just out of range.
Mondragon has been working on his boxing with his coaches at ubergym in the buildup to the fight.
Spar throws an overhand right that lands on Mondragon's shoulder, as Mondragon tries to avoid the shot.
Mondragon takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice shot by Spar.
Spar lands a really nice looking cross but Mondragon seems unphased.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by Spar.
Spar stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Spar throws a jab when Mondragon was well out of range.
Mondragon seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spar misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondragon takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mondragon moves out of range of the strikes.
Mr Spar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mondragon throws a lazy right hand but Spar sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Spar gets caught napping as Mondragon dives in and scores a takedown. Spar manages to retain guard.
Mondragon tries to free his leg and advance position but Spar is retaining full guard.
Spar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Spar can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mondragon controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Spar is trying to control the position but Mondragon postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mondragon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A left lands for Mondragon.
Mondragon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mondragon seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Mondragon - just one landing.
Mondragon throws out a loose jab but Spar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mondragon misses the jab.
Mondragon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sloppy strikes from Mondragon. Those never looked like landing.
Mondragon loads up on a big right hand but Spar slips the punch.
Spar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mondragon misses with a body shot.
Mondragon scores with a hook.
Mondragon defending well as Spar loads up on a big left hand.
Spar misses with an uppercut.
Mondragon throws a jab but it's blocked by Spar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mondragon.
Spar drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mondragon defends it well.
Spar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mondragon.
Mondragon looks to land a right hand but Spar moved out of range.

Spar gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mondragon to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mondragon sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mondragon won't allow Spar to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Esteban Mondragon will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mondragon shoots in and bounces Spar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mondragon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mondragon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spar is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondragon controls from within his opponent's guard.
Spar is trying to keep Mondragon in close.
Mondragon stays in close to Spar's body and controls the position.
Mondragon's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Spar lands a body shot.
Spar throws an overhand right that lands on Mondragon's shoulder, as Mondragon tries to avoid the shot.
Spar shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Spar lands a nice looking body shot.
Spar takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mondragon shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Spar looks to land a right hand but Mondragon moved out of range.

Mondragon shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Spar's guard.
Mondragon's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mondragon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Spar is pulling down on Mondragon's head to control his posture.

Spar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Spar trying to keep a closed guard but Mondragon is proving a slippery customer.
Mondragon controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Spar thows a left - swing and a miss!

Mondragon drives through with a takedown into Spar's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mondragon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mondragon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spar is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mondragon forces his way into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Mondragon dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mondragon looks to land a right hand but Spar moved out of range.
And Spar tries to counter it with a takedown but Mondragon pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mondragon throws a jab when Spar was well out of range.

Mondragon drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mondragon tries to free his leg and advance position but Spar is retaining full guard.
Esteban Mondragon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Spar keeping moving, preventing Mondragon from controlling successfully.
Mondragon preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mondragon wants to pass the guard but Spar is keeping the position.
Mondragon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mondragon showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mondragon misses with a wild body shot.
Spar lands a nice hook to Mondragon's body. Mondragon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mondragon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spar can do to turn this around?
Mondragon connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Spar throws a body shot but no joy.
Mondragon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spar avoids the body shot from Mondragon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mondragon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Spar.

Mondragon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Spar, pushing him back against the cage.

Mondragon works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Mondragon being controlled here momentarily.
Mondragon trying to control the position from guard on top but Spar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mondragon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spar controls Mondragon momentarily but Mondragon frees himself.
Spar has Mondragon pulled in close to control his posture.
Spar keeping moving, preventing Mondragon from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Spar lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Mondragon throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mr Spar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mondragon shoots in and bounces Spar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mondragon trying to control the position from guard on top but Spar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spar working a defensive guard but Mondragon passes into half guard.
Mondragon trying to control the action but Spar is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spar keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esteban Mondragon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mondragon, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esteban Mondragon!
A relieved looking Esteban Mondragon thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.